Voluntary Simplicity Movement

[billybob]

I've been looking into this a little bit...
I've always had an underlying desire to get rid of all my stuff and only keep the "necessities". Has anyone done anything like this? The only thing stopping me is being too lazy to sell the stuff i could get money for, sentimental attachments, and the fear that if i get rid of something i may need someday, i might hafta buy it again. Thoughts?

[NoWayNovember]

I would love to do something like that, although not as extreme as getting rid of *everything*, but there's no way my hubby would ever get on board... he thinks I'm too frugal as it is!

[sweeps]

It sounds intriguing, but if it turns out to not be right for you, it's going to be very expensive to replace your stuff. Maybe you could give it a trial run for a few months? Lock your stuff away in a shed or garage or something like that. If it doesn't bother you not having your stuff, go ahead and sell it.

[contrary1]

The older I get the more stuff I'm finding new homes for. I think I really could fit what I "have to have" in my van at this point. It would hurt to leave my piano & bedroom furniture.....both sentimental stuff..........but, I could do it at this point.

Have a fantasy of moving to Mexico & not taking much more than I could carry. Getting closer all the time!

[34saving]

You might start by committing to not buying anything other than food/other needed consumables. After I moved I realized I had WAY too much stuff. I went 9 months before my one pair of black shoes that I wore constantly finally gave up the ghost and had to be replaced.

You also might want to commit to hosting an annual garage sale and/or selling x (5,10,whatever) things a month/year/whatever on eBay/craigslist/whatever and freecycling/donating what you can't sell.

[billybob]

Stuff I really would like to get rid of most:
-Snowboard and boots I used ONCE
-Inflatable Raft I havent used for years
-Bags of clothes in the basement (anything in the basement, really. If its in the basement, it means i dont care about it)
-Other clothes in my closet I never wear
-Kitchen stuff I never use... extra pots and pans, dishes, glasses, etc. spices and other cuppboard crap i never use
-DVD "bonus discs" I never watch
-Crap my girlfriend pics out of the trash and leaves at my place >(
-Games I never play
-Electric guitar w/ amp i never play
-EXTRA mandolin and acoutic guitar ( I have 2 mandolins and 2 acoustic guitars)
-lamps i rarely turn on
-"Shelf ****" whos only reason for existance is to look nice on a shelf
-Gifts people have gotten me over the years that I feel bad chucking
-"Cable clutter" - boxes of wires and cables that occasionally i need something from, but could probably ditch

I'm sure i could think of more... but thats a start!!
(anyone wanna buy any of that stuff???

[PRICEPLUS]

It's funny but I was reviewing my possessions last night. I pretty much have all I need and all I want. At some point excess sets in. The need to acquire "things" is growing smaller as the years go by. I find that time is the thing that is most important now!

[Ima saver]

I have a lot of my mothers stuff, china, silverware, antiques that I just don't want to move any more. I don't use it and I have no relatives to leave anything to. I am thinking of selling some of this stuff.

[Fern]

I think for most people, the big consumer and spending and buying routine continues through the 40s or 50s; after that, you tend to want to discard stuff, don't ask me why. I saw that happen with my grandparents.

Just clearing out stuff for my tag sale as i prepare to sell my house has been a very cleansing, refreshing experience. I've been packing away stuff i don't really need for the next 4 to 6 months, or until i sell the place. and its amazing how much stuff you really don't need, and perhaps won't even miss. I think it's a great thing to do. Getting rid of the clutter can let you focus on more important things.

[PrincessPerky]

IMO start small, growing up with a 'gotta have it' and a 'save for someday' it can be hard to switch to less stuff, but I think cheaper.

DH is a pack rat, he comes by it honestly, genetically! but little by little he has stopped complaining aboiut my getting rid of stuff, which since he can't name one thing he wants that I tossed I figure I did good (unfortunatly I can name two things, but two is pretty small compared to truckloads of stuff!)

and I find that it is easier to NOT buy stuff when I know I will get annoyed at it sitting unused and get rid of it later.

it's not as hard as you might think once you get rolling.

I more or less fit the simple living lifestyle with my possessions as well as my finances.

I'm pretty fixed on the "6 month" rule, if I haven't used it in that long, out it goes. Also with clothing, when I buy new clothes (which I do on a slow, regular basis instead of huge all at once bursts) something in the closet goes to the shelter for every new item that comes in.

I will confess it can approach obsession for some folks but for me, it's just nice not having so much crap orbiting me in my space.


Here's a website dedicated to the concept...

http://www.simpleliving.net/

they have an active and interesting forum that also discusses savings and finances as well as the simple living subjects.

[Tightwad Kitty]

Simple Living would not work for me, as I am organized packrat. I lose interest in things very quickly only to find 18 months later; I will go back to it. If I spend money on it, say its hobby that cost over $1000 or more then toss it out because I loss interest for now and it past the six months rule, I would very much out of pocket. Yes, I have spent that kind of money on some of my hobbies too! I have very large storage area about size of five storage sheds that you hire here so it no problem to store!

My rule is 'If I say toss it then its toss that day!'

[Haku]

The concept interests me greatly, and I have a similar book on the subject as well.

However, I live fairly plain as it is. The only luxury I have right now is my DSL broadband, and I'm seriously contemplating cutting that off as well. My books are piling up, but I'm not willing to toss them out. Beyond that, I've got a bed, a nightstand, a desk, a chair, and a small safe. That's all the worldly possessions I have right now.

(edit: Forgive me, for I have forgotten my Apple laptop, an Ipod Shuffle, and a dresser. Hmm. Maybe I'm not as plain as I thought!)

[Fern]

I really like the idea a lot, tho admit i'm often torn between drooling over something in a catalog and trying to pass on it. I'm pretty good at not accumulating endless numbers of little knick knacks, or clothes, for instance, while i do spend on bigger ticket items, a pretty side table i saw in Ballard's Design for $129. Did I need it? No. Do I still want it? Yes.

There's someone I'm cat sitting for now, and I always enjoy going over to her house. She's a single woman in her 50s and has a modest 2 bedroom ranch that is very clean and neatly kept. The place is deocrated so that it's comfortable and attractive, but she has no excess clutter, dust collectors or stuff hanging around. That's where I'd like to get to, eventually. I figure that when i move from my current 1650 sf to a likely 1400 sf condo, that will help me downsize.

Fern, that's exactly it.

It's the clutter I dislike so much so things have to "earn" a place in my environment. My current limitations stem mostly from the small rented place I live in, when I move to a house where there will be more room, they I will likely allow more things to hang around since it won't feel as cluttered.

[sakigt]

My most prized posession is mobile, but its hard to not spend on the neato gadgets that are out there. Cell phones, ipods, NEWER cars. A lot for a 23 year old to say no to!

My condo will be small so Ill try and not go overboard by cluttering it up with junk. *crosses fingers*

[kashi]

billybob, if you're really interested in selling that stuff, you could probably get a decent price for it on craigslist.org. Check to see if there is a city near you, if you haven't already.

[billybob]

i do know of craigslist, and have sold things there before. My only hesitation is that I am lazy, and Its a big pain in the arse to do that. You have to take pictures, post stuff, repost it, meet up with people, etc. etc.
I had an idea of limiting my posessions to a certain number of things (Like I can keep 100 things, get rid of the rest) but i dont think this is feasable, and its a bit extreme...

[PrincessPerky]

Billy bob, I personally have not sold a single thing I ditched, well except two computers that I sold to my mother, the rest I donate, feels great and gets it out of my house, no work (beyond dropping it off) How about the opposite, ditch 100 things keep the rest..for now.

Fern, I have the feeling that when you downsize you will be saying 'gee I wish I had taken care of this earlier'....I certainly seem to spend my life saying that anyway.

[DivaJen]

Originally Posted by PrincessPerky

How about the opposite, ditch 100 things keep the rest..for now.

I like that idea - there's no rule that says we have to be black and white, all or nothing about things in life. Treat the decluttering as a process, a journey.